Ceiling collapse at Limpopo school injures 12 learners
Dingamazi Primary learners injured as ceiling collapses, sparking outrage over school infrastructure safety and contractor monitoring.
LIMPOPO – Hosi Maswanganyi visited Dingamazi Primary School on Monday following a ceiling collapse that injured 12 Gr 3 learners. The incident has raised serious concerns about the quality of school infrastructure and the oversight of government contractors.
Tsakani Macevele, a member of the School Governing Body (SGB), expressed deep concern about the incident, saying it could have been avoided if the Department of Education had properly monitored the contractor responsible for the school’s recent upgrades.
“As parents and members of the Dingamazi community, we are deeply concerned about what transpired. Several children are going to miss classes due to an incident that could have been prevented. We call on the Department of Education to ensure such incidents never happen again by properly monitoring ongoing upgrades.
“It hasn’t been long since this block was renovated, yet everything began to collapse shortly after the contractors left. It started with the veranda ceiling, and a few days later, the Gr 3 classroom incident occurred,” Macevele said.
School principal Martin Mathebula explained that the collapse occurred shortly after the children returned from their first break at 10:00.
“Nine Nine learners sustained minor injuries, while three suffered serious injuries.”
“Around 11:00 I heard screams from the Gr 3 classroom. From my office, I could see a blood-drenched child being brought to my office. His scalp was badly cut, and we had to quickly bandage him before rushing him and the other children to the hospital. Nine learners sustained minor injuries, while three suffered serious injuries. Thankfully, all were treated and released to their parents by 21:00 on the same day,” he said.
Mathebula said experts who examined the ceiling suggested it fell because it was not properly secured, noting that incorrect nails had been used. “The contractor, however, claimed the collapse might have been caused by external factors, such as bats,” Mathebula said.
Community members and school officials said bats could not cause a newly installed ceiling to fall.
“It is clear that the wrong materials were used to secure it,” said Mathebula, during a visit by Hosi Maswanganyi.
Hosi Maswanganyi stressed the importance of quality workmanship on government projects.
“This is a government institution, the Department of Education must ensure contractors are closely monitored to guarantee quality workmanship,” he said.
Education spokesperson Mike Maringa said the investigation into the matter was still ongoing.
“We will decide on the appropriate action once the report is ready. The part that collapsed is in a block that was recently renovated,” Maringa stated.
